Around in the World in 180 Days

For my junior year of college, I studied abroad at the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Melbourne in Australia. When thinking about the best way to write about my study abroad experience, I concluded that there was no way to truly capture the nine months I spent studying abroad in a few short paragraphs. Rather than write a novel-length post about my year abroad, I decided to capture my best memories of my two semesters. Studying abroad is an amazing, challenging, fun, difficult, and, though it’s a cliché, life changing experience. Even if I did write a book it wouldn’t capture the beautiful places I visited, the things I learned—in and out of the classroom—and the wonderful friends I made. This doesn’t even begin to do it justice, but here are a few snapshots of my study abroad experience:

September-December 2010

Studied at: National University of Ireland, Galway in Galway, a small city on the west coast of Ireland. 

Visited: Dublin (Ireland), Tuam (Ireland), Belfast (N. Ireland), Leeds (England), Oxford (England), Barcelona (Spain), Prague (Czech Republic)

--During Orientation, we attended a performance of The Plough and The Stars at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. This play, a controversial portrayal of the 1916 Easter Rising, made me fall in love with Sean O’Casey, so much so that I wrote a final paper about him during my senior year at Fordham.

--In a tradition that started on our first night in Galway to stave off the homesickness, my closest friends and I began cooking dinner together in each other’s apartments. That first night was in my apartment—we made tacos : ) As the semester went on, we branched out and made Irish cuisine, including Bangers and Mash, Guinness Beef Stew, Irish Potato and Bacon Casserole, and a full Irish Breakfast—poached eggs, bacon, toast, fried tomatoes, orange juice, sausage, black pudding, white pudding, beans, potatoes, and of course a pot of Irish Breakfast Tea.

--My friends and I found a café that soon became our favorite hang-out: Café Luna, a small, cozy café filled with comfy chairs and funky local art, located just off of High Street in Galway. Like most places in Ireland, it has yummy carrot soup served with brown bread and a hot cup of Irish Breakfast Tea. 

--Watching Irish dancers, singing along to yet another chorus of ‘Galway Girl,’ or listening to local singers/songwriters while sharing a pint of Guinness or Bulmer’s with my friends in one of Galway’s many pubs: The Roisin Dubh, The King’s Head, and The Crane, among others. Pubs are an integral part of Irish life, a place for the community to come together.

--Visiting the Cliffs of Moher—a haunting, eerie, beautiful place that defies description.

--Talking Irish politics with my three Irish housemates—Emma, Michelle, and Niamh. They presented me with new perspectives on “The Troubles,” the thirty-odd years of fighting and bombings in Northern Ireland in the 1960s to the 1990s. As Emma put it, “I want The Six back as much as anyone, but I’d rather they stay as they are so long as no one else dies.” Most of the Irish I spoke to referred to Northern Ireland as “The North” or “The Six” (the six counties) rather than Northern Ireland.

My friends and I in front of Kylemore Abbey, in Conamara. 

My time in Ireland was far too short (although when it rained for the 20^th day in a row, sometimes it felt too long : ) and I will always cherish the time I spent with the Irish people, who are truly as welcoming and kind (or, as the Irish would say ‘lovely,’) as they are fabled to be.

February-June 2011

Studied at: University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia, a bustling, eclectic, metropolitan city in the south-eastern corner of Australia.

Visited: Brisbane (Australia), Cairns (Australia), the Grampians (Australia), Hobart, Tasmania (Australia), Phillip’s Island (Australia), Yarra Valley (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand), Waitomo (New Zealand)

The Twelve Apostles, on the Great Ocean Road in Southern Australia.

--Seeing kangaroos on our first day of Orientation, and watching our Aussie orientation leaders laugh at the wide-eyed Americans who’d never seen a ‘roo’ before.

--Learning the Australian practice of abbreviating EVERYTHING—Australians are Aussies, Australia is Oz, Melbourne is pronounced “Melbin,” Canberra becomes “Canbra,” papayas are paw-paws, Australian Rules Football is footie, attending a college/university is ‘going to uni,’ etc. If there is a way to abbreviate it, the Australians will find it and use it.

--My roommate Sara and I hosting an international potluck dinner/Miyazaki movie night at our apartment, featuring a delectable mix of Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mexican, and Indian cuisine—plus, since we’re college students, pizza, ice cream, and soda.

--Eating Aussie burgers (a fried egg and bacon on top of the burger, with ketchup, lettuce, and onion) at Lord of the Fries, a vegan (yes, vegan) burger joint.

--Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns while on Easter Break with my friends—literally the most beautiful experience of my life. And getting “chased” by a shark while swimming off the boat with Kiri and David .

--Watching the soldiers and veterans march in uniform down the streets of Brisbane on ANZAC Day, the Australian version of Veteran’s Day. (ANZAC stands for Australia-New Zealand Armed Corps.)

--White-water rafting on the Tully River with my friends—and after going over a waterfall,  eating a traditional Australian ‘barbie’ (barbeque) with our guides along the bank of the river.

--Holding a koala at the Koala Preservation Center in Brisbane—a bit like holding my beagle, except the koala hugged me back : )

--Going Black Water Rafting in the caves at Waitomo in New Zealand with my friends, plus my brother and sister. Thousands of glow worms live on the roof of the caves—it’s like looking up at a clear night sky while being dozens of yards underground.

My friends and I hiking in the Grampians National Park, a few hours north of Melbourne. 

                                                    

I loved my time in Australia, and, like with Ireland, I will cherish all the fun and adventures I had with my friends forever. I learned to appreciate the laid back, down-to-earth Aussie attitude—and I learned that when the Aussies say something will start at 2:00, that really means 3:00—if you’re lucky : )